Development of Restore and Rebuild (R&R)

A major finding across the research was that individuals experiencing moral injury reported that conventional trauma-focused treatments were not effective in addressing their symptoms. After recognizing the need for a targeted treatment for moral injury, the Restore and Rebuild (R&R) intervention was developed.

R&R is a targeted intervention for individuals with moral injury related mental health problems. This structured talking therapy consists of 20 weekly one-to-one online sessions with a dedicated therapist. The sessions start by exploring the individual’s life experience and providing psychoeducation on moral injury which includes revisiting the originally morally distressing event(s). Later sessions focus on reshaping negative beliefs while exploring self-compassion and improving connections with others. This intervention aims to provide veterans with an opportunity to share their morally injurious experiences, with a specific emphasis on understanding and overcoming guilt and shame-based feelings. 

This intervention was successfully piloted with this treatment leading to reductions in symptoms of PTSD, depression, alcohol misuse, and moral injury related distress.

Currently, a randomised controlled trial is exploring the effectiveness of this treatment in comparison to treatment as usual in veterans with moral injury.

For more information head to ‘New moral injury treatment shows early success‘ on this website.